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The Woman in Travail

May 1, 2018 By Bear Ian Leave a Comment

, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws nearThe Woman in Travail, which is a painful or laborious effort.

The astronomical events referred to as the Revelation 12 Sign of Sept. 23, 2017 were a depiction of a woman, a conception, a full-term pregnancy, and the birth of a male child.

Allow me to highlight these points:

  • WOMAN
  • CONCEPTION
  • PREGNANCY
  • BIRTH

There are two ways of interpreting both the scripture in Revelation 12 and the associated story ascribed to the astronomical events of Sept. 23, 2017 commonly being referred to as ‘The Revelation 12 Sign’.

The first is obvious;  the woman is the Virgin Mary who gave birth to the Messiah, Jesus/Yeshua.

However, an event that happened a little more than 2,000 years ago hardly qualifies as being prophetic, as prophecy deals with the future.  John the Revelator was given a vision of things to come, not things which already happened.

The second interpretation requires a little more insight.  The woman represents Israel and the male child is the Church.  The most common and immediate objection to this interpretation is that the Church is always referred to in the ‘female’ form as ‘the Bride of Christ’.  However, the Church is also referred to in the ‘male’ form in the following verse about the Rapture..

For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

You are all sons of light and sons of the day.

– Thess. 5:3-5

Is the Church not the ‘body of Christ’ where He is the Head and the Church is the body?

Is Christ not the ‘first fruits’ of the dead who are raised to life?

Does the head not precede the body during natural birth?

Was Christ not ‘born again’ when He rose from the dead having put off the perishable for the imperishable? Trading His fleshly body for His eternal body?  He did not see decay…he was transformed.

A woman’s labor is like a short time of pain that will lead to joy that continues forevermore.  A 7-year period of time is quickly approaching when Israel will be persecuted like never before.

This period of time is known as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, or the Tribulation and will be a time of great pain and sorrow.

However, before this period begins, those who know that Jesus/Yeshua is the Messiah, both the dead and the living, will rise to meet Messiah in the clouds to be with Him forever. This is the Blessed Hope.

By no means is the mention of dates a suggestion that the Rapture or ‘catching away’ of Jesus/Yeshua’s Church will happen on any of those days.

PASSOVER                                                         2018               Sunday, April 1st

ASCENSION                                                       2018               Thursday, May 10th

PENTECOST                                                      2018               Sunday, May 20th

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL                                     2018               Saturday, May 12th

ISRAEL’S 70th ANNIVERSARY                      2018               Monday, May 14th

US EMBASSY MOVING TO JERUSALEM  2018               Monday, May 14th

However, to those who are ‘awake’ and who are paying attention, it certainly does seem likely that something significant will happen soon that is tied to the events on these dates.  The convergence of Signs has only intensified these last six months as global events seem to be following Biblical prophecies of the End Times as if a script were being acted out.  For instance, the countries which are foretold to invade Israel in Ezekiel 38 never before have formed a coalition, yet this has happened and already been reaffirmed in the last couple of months. Russia, Turkey, and Iran are now formally united against Israel.  Never before has Damascus, Syria been on the verge of being totally destroyed, to the point of being uninhabitable.  Today, most of the city is destroyed, but not yet completely destroyed. The stockpiles of chemical weapons in and around the city could very easily be the cause of the city’s upcoming desolation.  It’s not hard to imagine how either the chemical weapons themselves, or nuclear retaliation for their use against innocent civilians in neighboring Israel could be the cause of the city’s pending destruction.

All the while, whether they are aware of how they are fulfilling prophecy or not, the leaders of the world are calling for ‘Peace and Safety’ or ‘Peace and Security’.

Whether one puts any stock into the validity of the astronomical event of Sept. 23, 2017, or not, global events which were prophesied about 2,000 or more years ago are accelerating right now like never before.

That being said, give thought to this… In Isaiah 66, the woman (Israel) is said to give birth to her ‘children’ BEFORE she was in labor, before her pain came.  This event is emphasized as being highly unusual by the asking of the question, “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?”  So the question must be asked, “What if it is true that the Church is the male child?” The male child who is born BEFORE the upcoming painful, sorrowful time for Israel.

What if the use of the Greek word ‘harpazo’ in Revelation 12:5 is acutely intentional and does in fact mean ‘rapture of the church’ in this context?  This interpretation can’t be ruled out.  It is possible.  And if it is possible then our time may be very short.

Be faithful witnesses and look up, for our redemption, our Blessed Hope, draws near!

Personally, I am more inclined to believe that the Rapture would coincide with the Feast of Trumpets in the Fall.  This  ‘moed’ or ‘appointed time’ is historically known as ‘the hidden day’ or ‘the day which no man knows the hour’ as it was dependent on the sighting of the new Moon.  But God is Sovereign and will come when He will come, which could be at any time…especially in light of world events.

Share the Gospel. Share the Good News that despite our sin and having broken God’s Law, God himself paid the price for us, having humbled Himself to leave His throne in heaven to be born as a sinless human, being God in the flesh with a mission to pay the penalty for sin which required death, but in death our place.  And having died on the cross, He rose from the dead three days later having conquered death…so that those who believe and who confess their sin and their need for Jesus/Yeshua’s gift might inherit His free gift of everlasting life in His presence.

Pray out loud or silently, “Jesus/Yeshua forgive me, for I have sinned against you by breaking your law.  Please come into my life, save me.  I believe you died for my sake because you love me. I believe you rose from the dead and that you’re coming back soon.

Amen.

Filed Under: Last Days Commentary, Rapture Signs, Revelation 12 Sign Tagged With: 2018, birth, church, end times, Isaiah 66, Israel, labor, rapture, Revelation 12, woman in travail

USA Recognizes that Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel

December 6, 2017 By Bear Ian Leave a Comment

us-embassy-in-jerusalem-2018On December 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump announced the United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and ordered the planning of the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on December 7 where 14 out of 15 members condemned Trump’s decision, but the motion was vetoed by the United States.

The US embassy was officially opened in Jerusalem’s southern neighborhood of Arnona on May 14, 2018, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the Israeli Declaration of Independence.

It’s interesting that on a map the 1949 Armistice Agreement line bisects the new US Embassy in Jerusalem.

Filed Under: Jerusalem Tagged With: Arnona, Donald Trump, Israel, Jerusalem, move, moved, relocated, relocation, UN, US Embassy

The Crowd is not Always Wrong

November 23, 2017 By Bear Ian Leave a Comment

A multitude of prophecy teachers and prophecy students alike are abuzz regarding a recent development in the Middle East.

For the first time ever, the countries of Russia, Iran, and Turkey have formed an alliance regarding the fate of Syria.

Here’s one article on the alliance from Newsweek November 22, 2017.

The reason for all of the excitement?  These three countries represent the players in the prophecy of the Gog/Magog invasion of Israel from Ezekiel 38.  The stage continues to be set.

Israel has been warned to not interfere in Syria.

Israel’s response?  “Yeah, right.”

Filed Under: Last Days Commentary, Rapture Signs Tagged With: alliance, Erdogan, Ezekiel 38, Gog, Hassan Rouhani, invasion, Iran, Israel, Magog, prophecy, Putin, Russia, Syria, Turkey

Peace and Safety 2017

December 31, 2016 By Bear Ian Leave a Comment

This video compilation was uploaded December 2009, if it were re-created today it would be 3x as long.

Peace and Safety, Peace and Security.

With trepidation, I look forward to the upcoming January 15th Peace Conference in Paris, which should adopt the slogan “Peace and Security” or “Peace and Safety”.

As of late, this scripture comes to mind often as being tied to to Revelation 12,

1 Thessalonians 5:3

For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

 

Revelation 12:1-6

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Revelation 12:1-6

It’s notable that 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 speaks of the Rapture, using the Greek word ‘harpazo’, which is the same word used in Revelation 12 to describe the male child being rescued, or caught up to heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

So in summary, the similarities between these 3 scriptures is that they mention a woman in childbirth, and include the phrase ‘caught up’ from the Greek word ‘harpazo’ which is the Rapture. It seems to me that they might be connected on a timeline… Peace and Safety, the woman gives birth, the church is raptured and saved from the fiery red dragon but those left behind will not escape, and the 7 year Tribulation begins.

 

Filed Under: Rapture Signs Tagged With: 2017, caught up, Israel, peace and safety, peace and security, pregnant, rapture, UN, United Nations

Nations Rage Against Israel

December 29, 2016 By Bear Ian Leave a Comment

The United Nations passed a resolution on December 23, 2016 which rebukes Israel’s settlements as illegal and a “flagrant violation” of international law as well as proclaiming all of East Jerusalem as well as the Western Wall of the Temple Mount as “occupied territory”. In an unprecedented move, the United States under Obama abstained from using it’s veto power against the resolution, which passed with 14 out of 15 votes.  U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334 also pushes links back to the June 1967 ‘Auschwitz Lines’. The 14 countries which voted for Resolution 2334 are:

  • Egypt
  • China
  • France
  • Malaysia
  • New Zealand
  • Russia
  • Senegal
  • Spain
  • United Kingdom
  • Angola
  • Japan
  • Ukraine
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

On January 15, 2017 in Paris France, 70 countries are meeting to discuss the creation of a Palestinian State.  Neither Israeli nor Palestinian representatives were invited to the meeting. The stated goal of this conference is to promote a “two-state solution” as the way that lasting peace will be brought to the Middle East.

Intense backlash to both Resolution 2334 and comments made by Sec. of State John Kerry immediate followed.  Perhaps one of Kerry’s most dumbfounding remarks was that Israel could not be both democratic and Jewish, but had to choose between the two.  Kerry is taking credit for laying out the plan for the January 15 meeting.  It is anticipated that a UN Security Council resolution would immediate follow the Jan. 15 meeting that would formally create a Palestinian state before Donald Trump is inaugurated as President of the United States on January 20th, 2017.

The stage is being set for war in the Middle East by means of this “peace process”.

The nations seek to divide the land given by God to His Chosen people, the Jews.

Psalm 2 comes to mind…

Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
 “Let us break their chains
    and throw off their shackles.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
“I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have become your father.
 Ask me,
    and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron;
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

Therefore, you kings, be wise;
    be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear
    and celebrate his rule with trembling.
Kiss his son, or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Here is where we are presented with an enigma.  While Psalm 2 continues with clear Messianic implications, Revelation 2 seems to describe a coming day when the ‘rod of iron’ is given by Messiah to the church / saints who have overcome to rule the nations.

“…hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations–

 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’–

as I also have received from My Father;  and I will give him the morning star.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

-Revelation 2:25-29

One thing is for sure, the day when the Lion of Judah returns is approaching and His eyes are set on Jerusalem.

Filed Under: Jerusalem Tagged With: egypt, Israel, obama, Psalm 2, Resolution 2334, security council, U.N., UN, United Nations, United States, veto

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